As a day-one Swiftie from Kansas City, it’s heartening to know the superstar seemingly continues to do things to please me specifically.
Like many, I’m fond of Taylor Swift because her music is relatable and she has an inexplicable ability to convince fans that she is a friend who shares their interests, passions, and emotions.
That’s why I was particularly pleased when word broke that she was spending time with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Swift’s appearances around Missouri and hope my home state provides inspiration for some of her future music, it’s disheartening to witness the unfair criticism that has followed her recent appearances at Kelce’s games.
Let her live. Attending her boyfriend’s football games is not abnormal behavior, yet many are attempting to place the blame for the media frenzy on her shoulders. Swift is not a stranger to unfair media treatment, but it’s unfortunate that this far into her career, media outlets and opportunistic companies still seek to capitalize on her every move.
While the National Football League, the Chiefs, and Kelce enjoy a rise in ticket and jersey sales, Swift endures sexist comments and slut shaming. While Heinz, Hidden Valley, and other companies capitalize on Swift’s very normal stadium order: chicken strips with ketchup and ranch, she is the subject of body-shaming. While those types of comments are never warranted, they are especially insensitive given the fact that Swift publicly struggled with an eating disorder for years.
Also frustrating is the emerging narrative that women are just now tuning in to watch NFL games, never mind the fact that the league announced in March 2020 that nearly half (47%) of its fans were female.
As a lifelong female Chiefs fan, I can confidently say that I’ve never been turned off by football because of the absence of Taylor Swift, but rather, due to the league’s insistence on paying alleged sexual predators and domestic abusers like Ray Rice, Ben Roethlisberger, and Deshaun Watson millions of dollars each year.
A prime example of Swift’s media mistreatment came this week from a popular sports podcaster. In one of his latest episodes, he demanded Swift and Kelce release a sex tape in order to prove their relationship is real. You’ll find his full remarks if you Google it.
“P in V otherwise it’s not real. I want to see insertion,” he said.
“If Taylor Swift is going to be taking over our Sundays, I’m going to need to see a sex tape,” he later wrote on X, doubling down. “These are my demands.”
Some columnists have also written that the relationship between Swift and Kelce is 100% fake — a fact they simply have no way of knowing.
I’ve never met Swift or Kelce, so I don’t know either. However, as a longtime fan of them both, I do not think either needs the publicity.
Neither have posted about the relationship on their social media accounts. Swift has not directly commented on the situation at all while Kelce has briefly acknowledged the relationship on his own podcast and did so respectfully.
Given this media frenzy and unfair criticism, it is no wonder why Swift made no public appearances for more than 12 months during the height of a false controversy surrounding her in her “Reputation” era.
“Nobody physically saw me for a year,” Swift famously said.
Since starting her Eras Tour, Swift has reemerged into the public eye for the first time in a long time and is more successful than ever. I believe she is strong enough to withstand the unfair scrutiny, though I worry ongoing opportunistic behavior and media mistreatment will give her reason to share less with her fans.
Let’s not forget that Taylor Swift is a human being, deserving of privacy and respect. She should be able to live her life without becoming a spectacle for public consumption.
As a devoted Swiftie from Kansas City, I am eagerly looking forward to watching the Chiefs continue their winning streak this season and savoring the occasional glimpses of Swift in the stands. The media frenzy has been entertaining and somewhat understandable, but it’s time to focus on the game.
Rachel Barber is The Item‘s news editor. Her column appears every other week.
